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Monday, October 21, 2013

Sew & Stich Embroidery Blog Tour & Book Giveaway

Hello and Happy Monday, everyone! I'm checking in today to support my friend Alyssa Thomas and the release of her great new book, Sew & Stitch Embroidery. Yes, I think it will be my sewing friends and their continued successes that might ultimately draw me out of this somewhat unwanted but self-imposed leave of absence from blogging. I just can't help but share in the excitement of good news and good products from really good people. And Alyssa is most definitely one of those people.

I first "met" Alyssa online a few years back when I began experimenting with and teaching myself some embroidery skills. I was immediately drawn to the overall vibe of her artwork -- simple and accessible, chock full of character, and just SO DARN CUTE. I was also lucky enough to participate in a few embroidery swaps with her and visit her very first quilt market booth! Her embroidery designs are perfect for new & experienced stitchers alike -- relatively simple to complete but the end results are sure to impress. Since then, I've been delighted to follow Alyssa's journey in building up her embroidery-based business, Penguin & Fish -- great freebies over there, by the way -- as well as her forays into fabric design and book publishing.

Here's an original design that Alyssa first drew and stitched for me as part of a swap piece, the pattern for which she is now including in the book!

Isn't it gorgeous? And I have the original (soon to be pieced into a special quilt!)

Here's another great project from the book (Octopus twin quilt & pillow sham):

If you find yourself even remotely drawn to Alyssa's work, you'll absolutely love Sew & Stitch Embroidery. In this book, Alyssa infuses her embroidered characters into over 20 different sewing projects, from pillowcases and table runners to toys, scarves, and tablet sleeves. Along the way, Alyssa includes 30+ embroidery patterns that can be used in the book's projects and beyond. With 20 sewing patterns and 30 embroidery patterns, this book earns an A+ in value.

You can buy your very own copy of the book on the Penguin & Fish site here. When you buy directly from Alyssa she'll not only sign the book, but draw you a little doodle inside. Take it from me and my own experience: receiving a package from Alyssa is always a delight, since she tends to doodle on everything! With the holidays rapidly approaching, Sew & Stitch Embroidery gets the Quilt Dad seal of approval as a great gift idea for the crafters (and wannabe embroiderers) on your list. And as the father of 3 young children, I can vouch for the fact that Alyssa's designs are PERFECT for the creative kids in your life.

I'm also giving a copy of the book away to a lucky Quilt Dad reader! Simply leave a comment on this post and tell me a little more about your experience with hand embroidery. Are you a new stitcher? More experienced? What is the favorite project that you've made? I'll randomly select a winner from all of the comments later this week.

*** Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for participating! ***

Be sure to keep in touch with Alyssa and everything Penguin & Fish via social media!

Ooh! I've been embroidering as a serious hobby for about a year now. I got to do some on the neckline of my viking lady Halloween today too, first time I've done any on clothing, and I'm digging how it turned out.

I embroidered quite a bit years back. Lately, I have been collecting different iron on transfers to do an embroidered blocks quilt. I just need to get started. I am so attracted to the cute characters that Alyssa does. She is so talented!

Very limited embroidery experience. I stumbled across sublime stitching about 10 years ago and added some day of the dead embroidery to a felted knit bag at the time. I absolutely LOVE the owl design she did for you- cant wait to see your quilt progress with it

I am a long time stitcher! I am loving the fox table runner in the book! My favorite stitchings I have done are samplers for my brothers weddings and for my parents 50th wedding anniversary! thank you!

My grandma got me started on embroidery when I was just a wee thing and I've been in love with it ever since. Now my favorite projects are the ones I stitch for my son! This book looks like its right up my alley :)

I actually do quite a lot of embroidery myself and design patterns too for others. :) I really like using embroidery to personalize all kinds of sewn projects. Thanks for the chance to win and for sharing this book.

hey brooklyn how are ya? i'm originally from mulberry st in manhattan transplanted to long island. its so nice to see a man quilting. my husband helps me with cutting because i make a mess. he is much more accurate than i am. loved the bird and the octapus quilt. since i am new to quilting and embroidery i dont know that i can do either of these two projects. but i can certainly dream. and with a little help, who knows. thank you for a chance to win the book. happy sewing!

Until last year I had not done embroidery for years...no, make that decades! I have returned to it and found it fun to make some off-beat things like molecules...were are a science nerdy family! sad - no reply blogger - tinkingalong@gmail.com

I only just started embroidering this year, though I learned to cross stitch as a child. I embroidered my niece's name on her quilt. I loved the look so much that I got an embroidering "How-to" book for my birthday and am trying to use it to make some holiday fun! Thanks for the chance at the giveaway!

I've done embroidery off and on most of my life. I love pillowcases and small projects. Love the reference to the Holly Hobbie Pattern above, I remember making a pillow for my sister from that pattern.

Years ago I did some crewel embroidery pieces. I always remember seeing embroidery on my grandmother's pillowcases. I am inspired by the stitching blogs I am reading and would love a copy of this book! Thanks for giveaway opportunity.

thanks for taking part in the blog hop - nice to hear from you again !! looks like a great book - I've done a bit of stitching - the polka dot girls would be one of my favourites - by fellow aussie Bronwyn of Red Brolly

I like to embroider litt'le flourishes for other projects, like a word on a bag or quilt, or the edging of a pillow. I haven't really done any elaborate picture ones like what you've shown but I'd love to try. What I like about it is that it's a portable project that can be done anywhere.

I started out doing some stitching when I was a young girl because my favorite aunt gave me a kit. It was an owl. I did not like crewel much so started on cross stitch and kept with that for a long time. Now I quilt and do a bit of redwork. (By the way, I took some quilt books over to Golden Antiques in Summerfield and met your MIL there. What a coincidence!)

The most embroidery I have done is embroidering labels on the quilts I've made. I think it gives a personal touch to my quilts. I'm hoping to expand my embroidery skills (maybe this book will help me).